The Investing Edgeof Enterprise IT

Machine learning, a method of data analysis that automates analytical model building, is at the top of the “hype curve” for emerging technologies and is one of the top 10 strategic technology trends for 2016, according to Gartner. It’s safe to say that most of us are already interacting with machine learning applications on a daily basis whether it’s Apple’sRead more…

It’s amazing how much the Internet of Things (IoT) has grown from a trending topic to actual technology over the past few years. In fact, according to Gartner, 43 percent of businesses are planning to adopt IoT technology by the end of 2016. So in honor of National IoT Day on April 9, we are taking a moment to lookRead more…

We’ve established that the synergy between Cloud and mobile is both powerful and undeniable (as outlined in Part 1). We are not alone in this assertion. Earlier this month at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, technology behemoths Samsung and Oracle announced a partnership to help companies make use of their existing systems in the cloud. The goal is to enableRead more…

This year’s RSA conference was bigger than ever with more than 40,000 attendees. San Francisco buzzed with security vendors, buyers and investors as they crowded the lobbies of hotels and coffee shops with endless meetings. Being immersed in the atmosphere at RSA was both invigorating and overwhelming. It proved that while the need for cybersecurity solutions has never been moreRead more…

Mention the words “cloud computing” to anyone outside the tech industry just five years ago and chances are you’d have been met with a blank stare. Today, everyone has some level of knowledge of the cloud, even if it’s just to understand that it’s where our smartphone stores our pictures. Cloud computing has come a LONG way since its birthRead more…

We’d like to recognize the many successes and accomplishments our portfolio companies achieved in 2015. From impressive rounds of funding to key acquisitions, these companies continue to be leaders in their sectors. While we won’t attempt to capture them all, below are some representative highlights: CloudLock, a leading cloud cybersecurity and CASB provider, had a rewarding year filled with impressiveRead more…

With all companies now targets of cyber-attacks, and the average cost of a successful attack rising to $4 million, the demand for security talent is at an all-time high. But while cyber security jobs are up 74 percent in the last five years, more than 209,000 cyber security jobs in the U.S. are unfilled. To add to the complexity, thisRead more…

The modern security landscape is becoming a competitive arms race between cyber-attackers and defenders. Threats have matured, risks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and vulnerabilities across the enterprise are commonplace – and evolving. While security spending has ballooned as a result – Gartner forecasted that $77 billion would be funneled globally toward IT security efforts in 2015 – it is notRead more…

I’m excited to announce Ascent’s newest portfolio company, Sidecar, the leader in programmatic, product-level advertising. We at Ascent have been active investors in the ad tech space with companies like Bizo (acquired by LinkedIn for $175M) and StartApp (Deloitte’s #1 fastest growing tech company in the US ). We’ve seen the power of advanced analytics delivering superior results, especially throughRead more…

We’d like to express our congratulations to our three current portfolio companies that made the Inc. 5000 fastest growing private companies list this year: Building a successful company is major challenge to begin with, but sustaining a high growth rate raises the bar even higher. Their ability to achieve continued high growth is a testament to the strong leadership andRead more…